Game Thread | 2020-21 Season | Game #58 | Bulls @ Cavs | April 21, 2021

[Sebastian]

I wish we had Lauri Markkanen. He's a 23-year-old seven-footer who knocks down 3's effortlessly and there's no way to stop him. He had 16 points in 21 minutes tonight and was 4-for-5 on 3's. I'm surprised he's not starting. It's his fourth year on the Bulls - they must know something.

Awful defense.

But, he is available. Bulls are trying to move him.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Awful defense.

But, he is available. Bulls are trying to move him.

The Bulls are 65-131 in the games Markkanen plays, and have never had a winning record in games he’s played. That includes them going 8-18 this season with Markkanen on the floor. And him getting double-doubles doesn’t change that. Chicago is 14-25 in those games.

He gets hurt a lot and his numbers aren't great; 48.2 and 39.4% shooting. He's not much of a rebounder and only has 39 double-doubles in 208 games.

Two years ago he averaged 21.7 ppg in three games against the Cavs, shooting 54.3% on 3's. That's when he caught my eye. He kind of reminded me of a younger, bigger, more athletic Channing Frye. So far in three games this year he's averaging 16.3 ppg and shooting 52.9% overall and 50.0% on 3's against the Cavs. Maybe he just plays well against us.

He'll be a restricted free agent after this season. He's been benched; even with LaVine out he's not starting. His minutes have been reduced from 33 to 21 per game since January with the Bulls battling for a playoff spot. Considering he was a #7 overall pick and this is his fourth year in the league - not good. He should be entering his prime at this point. He was a starter his first three years and now he's on the bench. Looks like he'll be moving on after this season. The Bulls have apparently concluded that he doesn't make them better.

He looks like a guy who just wants to stand on the perimeter and stroke 3's. He does that really well - against the Cavs at least. Since the Cavs are the worst 3-point shooting team in the Association I thought we might be able to use a guy like that. I wonder if there would be any interest if he becomes a free agent. But we already have Love, Nance, and Wade at PF so probably not.

 

[kidduck]

I would happily give Hartenstein a contract like they gave Osman. I just wish Osman didn't have it already.

Hartenstein did a good job on Vucevic . Vuc got inside position a couple of times late in
the first quarter, but Hartenstein slyly bodied him a couple more feet away from the basket
before the pass, taking Vuc a bit out of the comfort zone.

Hartenstein is displaying positive skills in several facets.

Another thing I like about him is I have yet to observe him moping. Can't say that
about many of his teammates.

 

[Dr. Claw]

Hartenstein did a good job on Vucevic . Vuc got inside position a couple of times late in
the first quarter, but Hartenstein slyly bodied him a couple more feet away from the basket
before the pass, taking Vuc a bit out of the comfort zone.

Hartenstein is displaying positive skills in several facets.

Another thing I like about him is I have yet to observe him moping. Can't say that
about many of his teammates.

I have increasingly become a fan of Hartenstein for a number of things he does, especially on offense. Fouling aside he's a very good number 2 guy, and most of my worries about losing JaVale (even knowing he was never going to be here for the long haul) for the rest of the season have subsided.

Not a bad job going against Vucevic this time around at all.

 

[2 For The Brew]

They can’t. Sexton has been hated since he was drafted. At #8. SMH

The Sixers hate him because he tears them a new one almost every game they face him.

I get that SexLand have a height problem and that may well mean we’ll trade one of them eventually. I also think we focus a lot on their defensive limitations and not enough on how much of a problem they are for opponents defending them. Chasing their asses all over the court and getting sliced and diced is no fun.

 

[kidduck]

"We certainly dug ourselves a huge hole," noticed Bulls coach Billy Donovan. "We didn't really do anything well enough on either end of the floor. I thought they were the aggressor right from the start. I thought we were back on our heels both offensively and defensively. I thought their guards were able to get off screens and get downhill and put a lot of pressure on the basket. And then I thought defensively they were very disruptive of how they guarded us and how physical they were. I think that's what led to the number of turnovers that we had. Yeah, it was disappointing."

 

[ryanf]

Another thing I like about him is I have yet to observe him moping. Can't say that
about many of his teammates.

i see him always admitting his mistakes and trying to communicate with the other players. and i like it that he's proving himself so that the front office has some leverage in the jarett allen contract negotiations.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

McGee has only played in four games since joining the Nuggets. He played 41 minutes and scored 16 points. He last played 10 days ago.